?Serves: 12
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 30 mins in the fridge
INGREDIENTS:
200g Ombar Cocomylk chocolate (but any apart from 90% would work)
60g dairy-free butter spread
50g vegan biscuits, chopped (we used digestives, but you could use another kind)
50g vegan marshmallows
50g dried strawberries
METHOD:
1. Break up the ombar chocolate and add to a heat-proof bowl along with the dairy-free spread.
2. Place over a saucepan with simmering water making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Mix until melted, then take off the heat.
3. Pour 1/4 of the mixture into a separate bowl and leave to one side. Fold in the rest of the ingredients into the main bowl of melted chocolate.
4. Transfer into a tin (22×12 cm loaf tin) lined with parchment paper. Pour the remaining chocolate on top and smooth with a spatula or a spoon.
5. Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes of until set, then slice.
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via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
JARR Kombucha's Basic Brew
Makes 2 litres of kombucha.
What you’ll need to get started:
-1 x SCOBY w/ starter liquid OR 500 ml starter liquid (buy from www.happykombucha.co.uk)
-2 litres filtered water (500 ml boiling/ 1 litre cold)
-4 x organic unflavoured teabags (8 grams loose-leaf tea)
-120 grams organic cane sugar
-Glass jar capable of holding 2 litres
-Stirring utensil
-Breathable cotton/ cheesecloth
-Rubber band
-A warm and airy space to let your booch brew
Brewing Steps:
*Sterilise your jar and stirring utensil with boiling water before brewing.
1) Boil 500 ml of filtered water. While you’re waiting, drop the 4 tea bags into your jar. Pour the 500 ml of boiling water into your jar and allow the tea bags to steep for approximately 5 minutes.
*Different teas require different steep times and temperatures so please research the specifics of your tea before brewing.
2) Remove the tea bags with your stirring utensil and add your 120 grams of sugar. Mix until dissolved.
3) Top up your 500 ml of sweetened tea with 1 litre of cold filtered water and stir. This will cool the liquid down to below 35 degrees, making it safe to add your starter liquid/ SCOBY.
4) After the tea is cooled, add your starter liquid and SCOBY to the jar and stir.
5) Secure the cloth over your jar with a rubber band. Place in a warm, airy space out of direct sunlight. The ideal brewing temperature for kombucha is between 23 and 26 degrees.
6) Leave your kombucha to brew for 5 days. After 5 days, remove and dispose of the layer of cellulose that has grown on top of the liquid. Begin stirring your kombucha with a clean utensil, bottom to top for 1 minute, twice daily. This will help to oxygenate the liquid and encourage healthy bacteria growth which will speed up the fermentation process, dissipate much of the ethanol produced and ultimately produce a cleaner and more delicious tasting kombucha.
7) It is now entirely up to you to determine when your kombucha is ready based on your own personal preference. We recommend a period of about 2 weeks when fermenting at 24 degrees. If you’d like to get more specific, you can purchase PH strips/ litmus paper. Finished kombucha normally sits between 2.8 and 3.1 ph. When your kombucha is ready, put a lid on your jar and place it in the fridge. This will stop the fermentation process. Remember to save at least 1/4 (500 ml) of your final 2 litre brew as starter liquid/ SCOBY for your next batch. If you’d like to scale up to 4 litres for your next brew, save 1 litre of this batch.
Any questions? Get in touch with JARR Kombucha co-founder Adam Vanni directly by emailing him on adam@jarrkombucha.com
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/2WWCetZ
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
What you’ll need to get started:
-1 x SCOBY w/ starter liquid OR 500 ml starter liquid (buy from www.happykombucha.co.uk)
-2 litres filtered water (500 ml boiling/ 1 litre cold)
-4 x organic unflavoured teabags (8 grams loose-leaf tea)
-120 grams organic cane sugar
-Glass jar capable of holding 2 litres
-Stirring utensil
-Breathable cotton/ cheesecloth
-Rubber band
-A warm and airy space to let your booch brew
Brewing Steps:
*Sterilise your jar and stirring utensil with boiling water before brewing.
1) Boil 500 ml of filtered water. While you’re waiting, drop the 4 tea bags into your jar. Pour the 500 ml of boiling water into your jar and allow the tea bags to steep for approximately 5 minutes.
*Different teas require different steep times and temperatures so please research the specifics of your tea before brewing.
2) Remove the tea bags with your stirring utensil and add your 120 grams of sugar. Mix until dissolved.
3) Top up your 500 ml of sweetened tea with 1 litre of cold filtered water and stir. This will cool the liquid down to below 35 degrees, making it safe to add your starter liquid/ SCOBY.
4) After the tea is cooled, add your starter liquid and SCOBY to the jar and stir.
5) Secure the cloth over your jar with a rubber band. Place in a warm, airy space out of direct sunlight. The ideal brewing temperature for kombucha is between 23 and 26 degrees.
6) Leave your kombucha to brew for 5 days. After 5 days, remove and dispose of the layer of cellulose that has grown on top of the liquid. Begin stirring your kombucha with a clean utensil, bottom to top for 1 minute, twice daily. This will help to oxygenate the liquid and encourage healthy bacteria growth which will speed up the fermentation process, dissipate much of the ethanol produced and ultimately produce a cleaner and more delicious tasting kombucha.
7) It is now entirely up to you to determine when your kombucha is ready based on your own personal preference. We recommend a period of about 2 weeks when fermenting at 24 degrees. If you’d like to get more specific, you can purchase PH strips/ litmus paper. Finished kombucha normally sits between 2.8 and 3.1 ph. When your kombucha is ready, put a lid on your jar and place it in the fridge. This will stop the fermentation process. Remember to save at least 1/4 (500 ml) of your final 2 litre brew as starter liquid/ SCOBY for your next batch. If you’d like to scale up to 4 litres for your next brew, save 1 litre of this batch.
Any questions? Get in touch with JARR Kombucha co-founder Adam Vanni directly by emailing him on adam@jarrkombucha.com
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/2WWCetZ
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Thursday, March 26, 2020
De-Stress with Blasta Henriet
De-stress and unwind with our friends at Blästa Henriët's relaxation technique.
You need: 1 blanket, 1 bolster or firm pillows, 1 eye pillow
1. Sit down on a yoga mat or soft rug with your knees bent and your feet grounded. Fold the blanket in half and place behind you. The blanket will support you from your tailbone to the top of your head.
2. Place the bolster under your knees for support.
3. Lie back onto the blanket and place arms out at a 45-degree angle, palms facing up and your knees relaxed over the bolster.
4. Place the eye pillow over your eyes. The eye pillow will apply gentle pressure that send signals to the brain to relax, it will also block out unwanted light and help quiet your mind.
5. Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale deeply through your nose or your mouth. Try lengthening your exhale and keep the inhale shorter than your exhale - inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 8 counts.
Aim to stay in this position for at least 2 minutes and longer if needed.
Whilst maintaining the pose and breathing, travel across your body in your mind and acknowledge each body part as you go along. Starting with the big toe, second toe, middle toe and so on - move on to the shin, calf and thigh and across the abdomen, bellybutton, ribs, shoulder and on to the arm down to your fingers and back to the throat, across your face to the tip of your head and across to the other arm and all the way back down through the opposite leg.
This exercise is really helpful to help clear your mind and deepen relaxation. If you notice your mind starts wondering just acknowledge that it has happened and bring your attention back to your body.
Repeat as necessary.
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/3bnxilC
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
You need: 1 blanket, 1 bolster or firm pillows, 1 eye pillow
1. Sit down on a yoga mat or soft rug with your knees bent and your feet grounded. Fold the blanket in half and place behind you. The blanket will support you from your tailbone to the top of your head.
2. Place the bolster under your knees for support.
3. Lie back onto the blanket and place arms out at a 45-degree angle, palms facing up and your knees relaxed over the bolster.
4. Place the eye pillow over your eyes. The eye pillow will apply gentle pressure that send signals to the brain to relax, it will also block out unwanted light and help quiet your mind.
5. Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale deeply through your nose or your mouth. Try lengthening your exhale and keep the inhale shorter than your exhale - inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 8 counts.
Aim to stay in this position for at least 2 minutes and longer if needed.
Whilst maintaining the pose and breathing, travel across your body in your mind and acknowledge each body part as you go along. Starting with the big toe, second toe, middle toe and so on - move on to the shin, calf and thigh and across the abdomen, bellybutton, ribs, shoulder and on to the arm down to your fingers and back to the throat, across your face to the tip of your head and across to the other arm and all the way back down through the opposite leg.
This exercise is really helpful to help clear your mind and deepen relaxation. If you notice your mind starts wondering just acknowledge that it has happened and bring your attention back to your body.
Repeat as necessary.
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/3bnxilC
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Purple Sprouting Broccoli on Pasta
This is a lovely simple meal using fresh purple sprouting broccoli from our garden. The sprouting broccoli unfortunately does not keep its purple color. It is very nice served with a mixed salad, whole grain bread and a vegan organic wine.
Serving Size: 4
Ingredients:
- 14 ounces (dry) pasta (orechiette, castellane or even penne)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
- 1 organic lemon, zest and juice
- 1½ pounds purple sprouting broccoli
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil and cook the pasta a dente.
- Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan.
- Add the garlic to warm and season, but careful not to burn.
- Zest the lemon then juice it.
- Add the lemon juice to the garlic oil.
- Add the red pepper flakes and season with salt and black pepper.
- Stir to mix well.
- Keep the heat on low to keep the sauce warm.
- Remove the big thick stems and leaves from the purple sprouting broccoli.
- Steam the broccoli for 7 minutes (al dente) it will turn green.
- Drain the pasta and serve evenly on 4 plates.
- Add the broccoli on top and pour some of the sauce over each serving.
- Sprinkle with lemon zest or serve with a slice of lemon.
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via Why You Should Consider Buying Organic Food
Monday, March 16, 2020
Planet Organic Acquires As Nature Intended
We are delighted to announce that Planet Organic has acquired As Nature Intended, the chain of seven London-based organic and natural food stores.
Back in 2018 when we received investment in the business, we set the target of opening ten new stores in London over the next five years. Our mission is to provide food and products that are healthy for both our bodies and the planet, and to become pillars of the communities we serve.
We opened Queen’s Park last August, taking us to eight stores, and it has been wonderful getting to know our neighbours in the area. Now, with the purchase of As Nature Intended, we are moving towards our expansion goal and we can’t wait to meet our new communities across London.
We’ll keep you posted on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as our plans develop over the coming weeks, and we've popped our press release below for you to have a read through.
Planet Organic Announces Takeover of As Nature Intended
Planet Organic, the leading UK health and wellbeing retailer, has acquired As Nature Intended, the chain of seven London-based organic and natural food stores.
Planet Organic has targeted opening 10 new stores in the Greater London area within next five years. In 2019 Planet Organic opened a new store in Queen’s Park, North London, taking its shop count to eight. Now, with the purchase of As Nature Intended, Planet Organic increases its store count to become the largest specialist organic grocer chain in the UK.
Planet Organic was founded in 1995 and in 2018 Inverleith LLP became the majority shareholder to help expand the Company’s growth. As Nature Intended was founded in 1999.
Planet Organic’s Chairman, Ben Thomson, says:
“This deal allows us to further the mission of Planet Organic to provide food and products that are healthy for our customers as well as healthy for the planet. We share a similar outlook to As Nature Intended, a company which, like Planet Organic, promotes wellness with high environmental standards. Both organisations believe the future of High Street retailing is in providing experience- based shopping for the communities where we are located.
“In the short term our primary focus is to make sure we are there to support our customers, and the customers of our newly acquired stores, through the coronavirus outbreak. We have a very knowledgeable staff who can help answer questions on what foods, supplements and lifestyle changes we can make to help to boost immunity and general wellbeing.
“In the longer term this acquisition allows Planet Organic to grow quickly into locations we have already identified as ideal for our brand. With the addition of As Nature Intended stores, we will be the largest organic grocery chain in the UK with plans to grow further as the popularity of healthy foods continues.”
Planet Organic’s CEO, Peter Marsh, says:
“Planet Organic is the original organic supermarket chain in the UK. There is nothing we like more than to see our customers relaxing and chatting over a cup of coffee, an immune boosting juice, or helping them to shop in an environmentally friendly way, enjoying our unpackaged products, home- compostable packaging and zero-food waste policies. Ours is the sort of shopping that is the future of the high street. We are looking forward to providing this Planet Organic approach into the newly acquired stores in new communities.”
Caroline Gooding, As Nature Intended owner and CEO, who now steps down from her role, commented:
“Planet Organic is an amazingly complementary business, operating similar stores in London, with limited overlap with our own premises, and most importantly pursuing a similar mission and sharing our core values.
“While I am naturally sad to have reached the end of this 20-year adventure, I firmly believe that stepping back now is in the best interests of the As Nature Intended business, my colleagues and our customers. I am confident that I am passing the company into highly capable and committed hands, and that its new owners will be able to make the most of the opportunities for what now becomes the biggest and best operator in this market.”
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/38Rn0bN
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Back in 2018 when we received investment in the business, we set the target of opening ten new stores in London over the next five years. Our mission is to provide food and products that are healthy for both our bodies and the planet, and to become pillars of the communities we serve.
We opened Queen’s Park last August, taking us to eight stores, and it has been wonderful getting to know our neighbours in the area. Now, with the purchase of As Nature Intended, we are moving towards our expansion goal and we can’t wait to meet our new communities across London.
We’ll keep you posted on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as our plans develop over the coming weeks, and we've popped our press release below for you to have a read through.
Planet Organic Announces Takeover of As Nature Intended
Planet Organic, the leading UK health and wellbeing retailer, has acquired As Nature Intended, the chain of seven London-based organic and natural food stores.
Planet Organic has targeted opening 10 new stores in the Greater London area within next five years. In 2019 Planet Organic opened a new store in Queen’s Park, North London, taking its shop count to eight. Now, with the purchase of As Nature Intended, Planet Organic increases its store count to become the largest specialist organic grocer chain in the UK.
Planet Organic was founded in 1995 and in 2018 Inverleith LLP became the majority shareholder to help expand the Company’s growth. As Nature Intended was founded in 1999.
Planet Organic’s Chairman, Ben Thomson, says:
“This deal allows us to further the mission of Planet Organic to provide food and products that are healthy for our customers as well as healthy for the planet. We share a similar outlook to As Nature Intended, a company which, like Planet Organic, promotes wellness with high environmental standards. Both organisations believe the future of High Street retailing is in providing experience- based shopping for the communities where we are located.
“In the short term our primary focus is to make sure we are there to support our customers, and the customers of our newly acquired stores, through the coronavirus outbreak. We have a very knowledgeable staff who can help answer questions on what foods, supplements and lifestyle changes we can make to help to boost immunity and general wellbeing.
“In the longer term this acquisition allows Planet Organic to grow quickly into locations we have already identified as ideal for our brand. With the addition of As Nature Intended stores, we will be the largest organic grocery chain in the UK with plans to grow further as the popularity of healthy foods continues.”
Planet Organic’s CEO, Peter Marsh, says:
“Planet Organic is the original organic supermarket chain in the UK. There is nothing we like more than to see our customers relaxing and chatting over a cup of coffee, an immune boosting juice, or helping them to shop in an environmentally friendly way, enjoying our unpackaged products, home- compostable packaging and zero-food waste policies. Ours is the sort of shopping that is the future of the high street. We are looking forward to providing this Planet Organic approach into the newly acquired stores in new communities.”
Caroline Gooding, As Nature Intended owner and CEO, who now steps down from her role, commented:
“Planet Organic is an amazingly complementary business, operating similar stores in London, with limited overlap with our own premises, and most importantly pursuing a similar mission and sharing our core values.
“While I am naturally sad to have reached the end of this 20-year adventure, I firmly believe that stepping back now is in the best interests of the As Nature Intended business, my colleagues and our customers. I am confident that I am passing the company into highly capable and committed hands, and that its new owners will be able to make the most of the opportunities for what now becomes the biggest and best operator in this market.”
from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/38Rn0bN
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Friday, March 13, 2020
Supporting your Immune System
Staying well and supporting a healthy immune system is one our our best defences against viruses. We want to do all we can to help our communities keep healthy, so we’ve put together a short guide on how to support overall health and our immune systems, in addition to government health advice. Although particularly relevant now, this is our long-term advice for overall health and wellbeing.
Eat Well
Diet is hugely important, so ensure you’re getting enough nutrients from a diverse range of food sources including vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, proteins, nuts and seeds with a focus on plants and eating the rainbow. Eat organic fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes as they contain higher levels of antioxidants compared to conventionally grown crops and are more nutrient-dense, plus they have lower concentrations of pesticides, which can have a negative impact on gut health. Organic meat and dairy products contain around 50% more omega-3 fatty acids than non-organic, and organic milk and dairy contains higher concentrations of iron and Vitamin E. All of the food at our mix and match counter and our fresh juices, smoothies and coffees and certified organic.
Support Gut Health
The gut houses over 70% of our immune system cells - more than anywhere else in the body - which protect us from external disruptors like pollution and chemicals, and internal disruptors like pathogens, emotions and stress. The microbiota interacts with immune cells and stimulates our immune system as needed but this communication can be damaged by disruptors such as stress, poor diet and overuse of antibiotics. In order to support gut function, include prebiotic foods and spices in our everyday diet. These include kefir, inulin, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes and high beta-carotene foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy greens. Bone broths can help to repair the gut and multiple-strain probiotics can help to improve the variety of microbes in the gut.
Sleep Well and Rest Up
During sleep, our immune system secretes cytokines, a group of proteins that regulate immunity and inflammation. Adequate sleep also supports T cells, a type of immune cell that fights against pathogens. Going to bed early enough, creating a calming sleep environment and preparing your body to sleep can all help to improve the quality of your rest and in turn, support your immune system. Read up on our sleep tips and recommendations here. If you feel exhausted or run down, listen to your body and rest up, rather than pushing yourself with a jam-packed schedule or intense exercise, as this will only prolong recovery time.
Reduce Stress
A stressed body and mind is also more vulnerable to illness due to increased cortisol levels - the hormone that puts out body on high alert. Try meditation, breathing exercises or taking a long bath to lower cortisol production and supplement with apoptogenic Reishi mushroom that work as a natural stress modulator and immune booster.
Supplement
Supplementing our diets we have enough vitamins and minerals to support bodily function and boost the immune system.
We recommend everyone takes Vitamin C as it helps to boost the immune system by encouraging the production of white blood cells, and it has been shown to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Liposomal Vitamin C is particularly effective as it is fat-based rather than water based, like regular Vitamin C supplements, and because the liposome’s membrane is made of the same fat found in the cell membranes throughout the body, this allows the liposomal Vitamin C to pass into cells easily and be delivered directly into the cells.
Additionally, we recommend taking an immune supporting multi-vitamin like Wild Nutrition’s which delivers food-grown vitamins and minerals, amino acids, biomass mycelial mushrooms and Elderberry.
Take lauric acid, found in human breast milk and coconut oil, in the form of Monolaurin to support immune health without adverse effects on beneficial intestinal flora. Designs for Health’s Monolaurin Avail contains Vitamin C for added immune benefit, and sunflower lecithin to enhance absorption of the monolaurin.
Family Health
The same advice - eat well, support gut health, get enough sleep and supplement – is true for children too. Feed them foods high in Vitamin C such as oranges, kiwis and tangerines and B6 rich foods such as leafy greens and chickpeas, and supplement with elderberry syrup, Manuka honey and a probiotic.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Let Us Help You Sleep
We all know that a good night’s sleep is essential for our mental health and cognitive function, but it’s also crucial for a healthy immune system – something we all need now more than ever.
But getting the holy-grail of an eight-hour, uninterrupted sleep can be a complex, anxiety-inducing affair. As it's National Sleep Awareness Week, we want to help you get you the best night's sleep you can. Read on for our top tips and recommendations from our buyers and favourite brands.
All Hail Ashwagandha
Although we've been slow to clock on to the benefits of ashwagandha in the UK, the herb has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic practice to manage stress-related conditions and help with chronic fatigue, insomnia and adrenal fatigue. Pukka's in-house Ayurvedic expert, Jo Webber, gives us the low down on how this herb can improve our sleep. READ ON »
Read Me To Sleep
You're in bed, pillow spray spritzed, blackout-curtains drawn, phone exhiled in the living room but your mind isn't there yet. Enter the sleep podcast, using soothing voices and relaxation techniques to help you wind down. We're loving Get Sleepy at the moment, with different narrators to choose from and episodes including a tour of Venice and a trip down the Missisippi river. LISTEN »
And Breathe
Aromatherapy is a powerful tool when it comes to sleep, so our friends at Scentered have shared their Stop, Inhale and Reset technique to help us relax and prepare for sleep. This technique is great to have in your arsenal as it can be used during the day when you need a few moments to collect yourself and re-focus. READ ON »
Our Product Picks
Blasta Henriet Eye Pillow
Designed to block out unwanted light and soothe tired eyes, this weighted eye pillow can be heated up or cooled down and helps deepen relaxation before bed or during meditation.
Pukka Night Time Supplement
Featuring the all important ashwagandha, this supplement also uses a blend of high-grade, certified organic valerian root, gotu kola leaf, hawthorn berry and nutmeg fruit, to aid sleep naturally. Keep your eyes peeled on Instagram this week - we'll be running a big in-store giveaway.
Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Mist
A complex blend of 14 of the purest essential oils including English lavender, chamomile and patchouli, all expertly blended to help you relax and prepare for sleep. Spritz onto your pillow, lay down and breathe in through your nose for 7 seconds and out through your mouth slowly for 11 seconds.
Soakin Magnesium Bath Salt
The drop in body temperature after a hot bath encourages the body to rest. Add a scoop or magnesium flakes to help relieve aches and pains and set you up for a restful night.
Pukka Night Time Latte
Expertly blended by Pukka’s Master Herbsmith, Sebastian Pole, this luxurious herbal drink contains a plant-based blend of organic oat and nutty carob bean, infused with nature’s finest night-time herbs; lavender and chamomile, ashwagandha and nutmeg to help you relax and drift off with ease.
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via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Monday, March 9, 2020
Tagliatelle with Mushroom and Tofu Ragù
Late winter/early spring is a difficult time for fresh foods up north. We still have some winter vegetables like kale, savoy cabbage and parsnips in the garden, but it will be a while longer before fresh green vegetables are ready to be enjoyed. Therefor, mushrooms are a delightful opportunity for tasty meals at this time of the year.
Serving Size: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 pound brown mushrooms, cleaned and sliced or quartered
- 1 pound tofu, blotted dry and cubed
- 4 shallots, (or 1 large white onion)
- 1 cup soy cream
- 1 cup soy yogurt
- 1 cup vegetable bouillon
- 1 organic lemon, zest and juice
- 2 tablespoon vegetable cooking oil
- 2-3 sprigs fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- tagliatelle or fettuccine pasta for 4 people, cooked al dente
Directions:
- Blot the tofu well and cut into cubes.
- Slice the shallots or onion.
- Clean and slice or quarter the mushrooms. I quartered most, but sliced the big ones.
- Mix the soy yogurt and soy cream together in a medium bowl.
- Add 1/4 cup of the vegetable bouillon to the yogurt and mix well.
- Add the lemon zest and lemon juice. This will make it slightly thick. If you want a thinner sauce, add more of the vegetable bouillon.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan.
- Lightly brown the tofu cubes on all sides. When they are done, remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel and set in a bowl for later.
- Place the prepared shallots or onions in the frying pan and gently saute until glassy.
- Add the mushroom pieces and again saute until they begin to soften. You may want to add a bit of the rest of the vegetable bouillon rather than any oil so the mushrooms don’t stick.
- Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil and cook the pasta.
- Return the tofu pieces to the pan to warm.
- Add the ragù sauce or alternatively you can save it and serve in a gravy boat.
- Chill and chop the parsley and add to the dish, reserving a bit as garnish.
- Drain the pasta.
- Serve the pasta with the ragù on top and a bit of chopped parsley sprinkled on top.
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via Why You Should Consider Buying Organic Food
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Stop. Inhale. Reset.
There are many factors that contribute to a restful night’s sleep, so the aromatherapy experts at Scentered have put together the ultimate bedtime routine to help you wake feeling well rested.
Breathe
Release tension and anxiety with deep and conscious breathing coupled with aromatherapy. Our Stop, Inhale and Reset technique is a great tool to use during the day too when you need a few moments to collect yourself.
1. STOP - Apply Scentered’s Sleep Well Balm onto your wrists, neck and temples
2. INHALE - Place your hands on your abdomen. Deeply inhale the therapeutic natural aromas.
Breath 1: Place your hands on your chest, fingertips touching and breathe into them. Feel your fingers part at the deepest part of the breath, exhale mindfully.
Breath 2: Move your hands to your tummy, breathe consciously and deeply fill your lungs, feeling movement beneath your hands.
Breath 3, place your hands onto the lower abdomen and inhale deeply into the whole body, pause, hold your breath here, then exhale as slowly and mindfully as you can.
3. RESET - Observe your calm breathing and relaxed body and mind.
Use Aromatherapy to Associate Sleep with Scents
Once you’ve entered your technology-free hour before bedtime, apply our Sleep Well Therapy Balm to your pulse points. When we smell something, it triggers our olfactory nerve and sends a signal to our limbic system and the amygdala, the part of our brain that controls mood and memory. Certain associated smells can instantly impact mood and using this routine regularly will help associate the soothing scent of palmarosa, ylang ylang and lavender with sleep.
Create a Sleep Space
Look around your bedroom and ask yourself whether you feel relaxed in this space. Are your blinds letting too much light in at night? Is the room stuffy or well ventilated? Would you sleep better with white noise, or less noise? Assessing these factors before you get into bed start you off on the right foot. Lighting our Scentered Sleep Well Therapy Candle an hour before bed will make the space feel as calming and relaxing as possible thanks to the essential oils of lavender, chamomile and palmarosa.
Reduce Screen Time
We all know the negative effect blue light and overstimulation from our phones and devices can have on our sleep quality. Try leaving your phone outside the bedroom and have a technology-free hour before bed. Replace this screen-time with reading or practicing some light yoga.
Consider What You Drink
It might seem obvious, but here’s a friendly reminder: Cut the caffeine. Drinking too much caffeine throughout the day or too close to bedtime will have a negative impact on your sleep routine. Replace with herbal teas or water, especially in the afternoon.
Don't Hit Snooze
The average person completes five 90-minute sleep cycles per night and ideally, we wake up between these cycles, not in the middle of one. Being jolted aware by an alarm clock in the middle of REM (rapid eye movement, i.e. deep sleep) sleep cycle can leave you feeling sluggish but even if you're feeling tired, it's important not to hit the snooze button as this begins a new sleep cycle that will inevitably be broken when your alarm goes off again in ten minutes.
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via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods
Breathe
Release tension and anxiety with deep and conscious breathing coupled with aromatherapy. Our Stop, Inhale and Reset technique is a great tool to use during the day too when you need a few moments to collect yourself.
1. STOP - Apply Scentered’s Sleep Well Balm onto your wrists, neck and temples
2. INHALE - Place your hands on your abdomen. Deeply inhale the therapeutic natural aromas.
Breath 1: Place your hands on your chest, fingertips touching and breathe into them. Feel your fingers part at the deepest part of the breath, exhale mindfully.
Breath 2: Move your hands to your tummy, breathe consciously and deeply fill your lungs, feeling movement beneath your hands.
Breath 3, place your hands onto the lower abdomen and inhale deeply into the whole body, pause, hold your breath here, then exhale as slowly and mindfully as you can.
3. RESET - Observe your calm breathing and relaxed body and mind.
Use Aromatherapy to Associate Sleep with Scents
Once you’ve entered your technology-free hour before bedtime, apply our Sleep Well Therapy Balm to your pulse points. When we smell something, it triggers our olfactory nerve and sends a signal to our limbic system and the amygdala, the part of our brain that controls mood and memory. Certain associated smells can instantly impact mood and using this routine regularly will help associate the soothing scent of palmarosa, ylang ylang and lavender with sleep.
Create a Sleep Space
Look around your bedroom and ask yourself whether you feel relaxed in this space. Are your blinds letting too much light in at night? Is the room stuffy or well ventilated? Would you sleep better with white noise, or less noise? Assessing these factors before you get into bed start you off on the right foot. Lighting our Scentered Sleep Well Therapy Candle an hour before bed will make the space feel as calming and relaxing as possible thanks to the essential oils of lavender, chamomile and palmarosa.
Reduce Screen Time
We all know the negative effect blue light and overstimulation from our phones and devices can have on our sleep quality. Try leaving your phone outside the bedroom and have a technology-free hour before bed. Replace this screen-time with reading or practicing some light yoga.
Consider What You Drink
It might seem obvious, but here’s a friendly reminder: Cut the caffeine. Drinking too much caffeine throughout the day or too close to bedtime will have a negative impact on your sleep routine. Replace with herbal teas or water, especially in the afternoon.
Don't Hit Snooze
The average person completes five 90-minute sleep cycles per night and ideally, we wake up between these cycles, not in the middle of one. Being jolted aware by an alarm clock in the middle of REM (rapid eye movement, i.e. deep sleep) sleep cycle can leave you feeling sluggish but even if you're feeling tired, it's important not to hit the snooze button as this begins a new sleep cycle that will inevitably be broken when your alarm goes off again in ten minutes.
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Sleeping with Herbs: Ashwagandha
Jo Webber, Head of Herbal Education at Pukka Herbs, gives us the low down on ashwagandha and how it can help us get a better night’s sleep.
Whatsapps, flash sales, an overflowing work inbox - all factors contributing to the increasingly fast pace of modern day life. Staying calm before and winding down after a busy day have never been trickier to master. All of us are beautifully unique and have different ways of managing this busy lifestyle but, fortunately, to supplement these there is a natural remedy out there to help restore calm and balance to our bodies and minds.
Introducing ashwagandha…
Although we've been slow to clock on to the benefits of ashwagandha in the UK, it has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic practice to manage stress-related conditions and also help with chronic fatigue, insomnia and adrenal fatigue.
Ayurveda views ashwagandha as one of the most prized rejuvenating herbs, known as a ‘rasayana’ in Sanskrit. Rasayanas are thought to enhance both the quality and quantity of life, nourish the mind and enhance physical vigour, making them perfect for when we are feeling weak and exhausted. Classed as a modern-day ‘adaptogen’, ashwagandha adapts to the needs of the body, helping to support it and reduce negative changes during times of emotional and physical stress by strengthening the endocrine and nervous systems. A growing body of evidence is now being collated around this powerful herb with an impressive variety of health benefits.
Stress is often at the root of our sleeping problems: When we’re troubled, our sleep is too. Ashwagandha’s botanical name, withania somnifera, gives us further clues as to its properties. The Latin word ‘somnifera’ is translated as ‘sleep-inducing’, reflecting its ability to support deeper sleep. By nourishing and strengthening a weakened and over-anxious nervous system, studies show that Ashwagandha helps us to relax enough to get a better night’s sleep. According to our circadian clock (the body clock that naturally prepares us for sleep and wake), cortisol should naturally decrease in the early evening in preparation for sleep. Stress can overrule these rhythms and cortisol can stay elevated into the night and affect sleep success.
Ashwagandha acts as a depressant to the central nervous system, exchanging feelings of anxiety for feelings of calmness. Stress normally causes a surge in the adrenal hormones - adrenaline and cortisol - that increase alertness. Ashwagandha tackles the problem at the root as it acts directly on the trigger of stress by regulating the imbalanced cortisol level and nourishing the adrenal glands. It acts directly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, modulating the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, from the adrenal glands. Chronic stress is a major health concern worldwide and of course impacts our sleeping habits.
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